#like a good solid CHUNK of the ninjas problems straight up would not have happened if baby lloyd just put that cover back on the snakes | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

writer-room · 11 months

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Rewatching the earlier, and even pilots episodes, of Ninjago are so WILD man. First of all, you notice all the things that are just plain forgotten about or pushed aside in later seasons. Kai originally being the main character, sure, we all know that one, but Cole was heavily implied to be, or become, the leader of the Ninja, that was Cole’s thing. Zane was automatically described with having a sixth seer sense, when nowadays it shows up very, very infrequently. Lloyd used to basically be the Avatar, does anyone remember that? This kid was just the Avatar.

And then you remember the silly things. Like how the skeleton army was once a threat. Like...the skeletons. We battled a giant snake, smaller snakes, robot armies, sentient video games, Garmadon a billion different times, the Overlord, Oni...and the skeletons used to be a worthy adversary. The skeletons.

Did you all remember that Cole’s earth dragon used to...breathe earth? I’ve been forced to remember. Rocky used to breathe earth as a form of attack. It was shown through brown swirly wisps in that beautiful, incredibly shitty 2011 effect. The Underworld used to be implied to be the place where all dead people went, or at least the bad ones. We never heard of a Departed Realm. Do we remember the time Cole had a scene that was a direct parody of Michael Jackson? I sure do. Genuinely the highlight simply because I don’t know how to describe the emotion I felt upon seeing it.

#ninjago #lego ninjago #kai #cole #zane #skeleton army #rocky dragon ninjago #dragons #early ninjago seasons #ninjago underworld #skulkin #talk #text post #garmadon #kai smith #cole brookstone #zane julien #also the skeletons lived in the underworld #there was no departed realm yet. was this just where we were expected #to believe people went when they died? to the skeleton army?#garmadon hired these guys. he wanted these guys to help him #there was so much happening #in the pilot episodes the main villains were the skeletons with garmadon looming in the background #then there were the SNAKES that lloyd unleashed. which. now i love lloyd with all my heart and soul--#but at least 80% of all the ninjas problems wouldve never happened if lloyd didnt unleash those dam snakes #no pythor. no great devourer. no aspheera. no villain team-ups. no dead guys back from the dead. no underground city that momentarily #worried them. no ancient cities to find #like a good solid CHUNK of the ninjas problems straight up would not have happened if baby lloyd just put that cover back on the snakes #im sure the writers and artists can do something angsty with that. i believe in you guys #baby lloyd fr was the reason the apocalypse was unleashed like 20 times if you wanna squint do you think that keeps him up at night

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lady-byleth · 7 years

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The Four Relationships that shaped Fushimi Saruhiko

Or, the three times Fushimi Saruhiko had to deal with geniuses and the one time he didn’t

What sounds like the subtitle to some random fanfiction is actually my triumphant (har har) return to the K fandom after who knows how many years.

People who know me will be aware that I cannot re-enter a fandom without analysing the shit out of everything and this will mark my first character study thing in this fandom.

A study of parallels, foils and compliments. Fushimi Niki, Oogai Aya, Munakata Reisi and Yata Misaki.

So first off, a small thing I noticed about Niki, Aya and Munakata. They’re all three geniuses and trolls, but all three of them use these traits in different ways and affect Saruhiko differently throughout his life. They all challenge him and they all troll him, but they all have different motives and motivations.

There’s also a keyword I’ll bring up a lot: Challenge.

For that, I have a small scale that I like to call the Jerkass Scale. We’ll start with the top of that Scale, where the most Jerkassery happens.

In other words, we’ll start with Fushimi Niki.

Niki is Saruhiko’s father, an almost unparalleled genius, handsome and well aware of it, and a malicious troll. He torments his son for no other reason than to see him react, uses his genius as an excuse to waste away in his unhealthy lifestyle, neglects his child until he needs a solid laugh and is overall just a really crappy person. Saruhiko was terrified of him and his whims and thus it comes as no surprise that the only thing I regret about his death is that Munakata didn’t stab him in the face.

Niki challenged Saruhiko in a way that marked him for life. He didn’t only challenge him intellectually but mostly emotionally. Through fear.

Good riddance, jerkface.

Second on the Scale, in Misguided Neutral Territory, is Oogai Aya

Aya, like an apparently very big chunk of her and Saruhiko’s family, is a straight-up genius with zero social skills. As one of two kids in her age group, she tries to get Saruhiko’s attention by challenging him in harmless though no doubt annoying ways that do the exact opposite of making Saruhiko look at her. He doesn’t care about her challenges or her desire to prove herself. It’s boring and all something he’s seen before, stuff he already knows.

When she realises this the apparently inherited troll breaks out in one of the nastiest ways possible. By reviving Fushimi Niki.

Despite this Aya is not a bad person, she’s misguided and desperate. A sweet girl who grew up in the same family that created Niki, a dysfunctional heap of brilliant minds and no parenting skills.

She fits neatly between the absolutely disgusting individual who was Niki and the only part of this troika who did everything right.

Munakata Reisi, a Genius among Kings

Just like Niki and Aya, Munakata is a genius. Contrary to them he doesn’t only use his genius to benefit himself. Instead of spending his entire time being a lazy prick or trying to make an impression the completely wrong way, he uses his considerable intelligence for the good of the people, to uphold order and peace.

He too challenges Saruhiko on an intellectual level, through the puzzle during their first one-on-one for example, but does so in a way that allows Saruhiko to meet him on neutral ground. The puzzle has no meaning other than seeing and understanding the extent of genius on both sides.

Munakata understands Saruhiko is on a different level than him but instead of being condescending he allows Saruhiko to use his own head to solve his problems. Munakata uses his genius to help Saruhiko in subtle ways. “You might have caught a cold.” A virus. “I’ll give you a tip but you’ll have to do the rest, as I know you can.” It’s the groundwork for a relationship built on complete trust and understanding.

He makes an effort to understand Saruhiko as a person and not as a potential asset to his Clan. And he doesn’t stop making an effort once Saruhiko is part of his Clan.

Saruhiko is caught in a mindset that things aren’t made to last and that you will always lose what you care about. Munakata challenges that mindset by refusing to let Saruhiko believe it. At one point Saruhiko builds a sandcastle and then stomps it flat because it’s better if he does it than to wait for the tide. Munakata responds by drawing the blueprint of Scepter 4 headquarters with his powers. “We’ll build the best sandcastle ever and I will use my powers so that nothing can ever tear it down.” Because even if he’s subtle, Munakata is never subtle.

But Munakata is a troll too, only different. He teases Saruhiko relentlessly and does so with an almost childish glee but never in a way that would make Saruhiko uncomfortable. And Munakata genuinely enjoys it when his favourite trolls him back.

No, Captain, it’s not a ninja.

The Irregularity, Yata Misaki

Fushimi Saruhiko grew up around geniuses and people who only needed him when they wanted something from him.

Until Misaki came along.

Straightforward, enthusiastic, childish kinda stupid. Yata Misaki met Saruhiko in a time of need and with no thought or goal rushed in to save him. And that describes Misaki perfectly.

Misaki saw Saruhiko was a genius and that he was alone and wanted to befriend him. Not to use him, not to be seen by him, he didn’t want anything.

He just thought Fushimi Saruhiko was awesome. He just wanted to make him smile.

Yata Misaki never looked before he leapt, he just did what he thought was right. Save a stranger from bullies? Done. Befriend him because why not? Of course. Move in with a friend to get him away from his abusive home? Absolutely. Ask anything in return? No.

Misaki and Saruhiko couldn’t have been any more different but they had one thing in common. They were social rejects, people with no place in society. So they found their place in each other. And they would have done anything for each other.

For Misaki there was never a bigger goal. There was just that friendship he treasured, that friend he wanted to protect and make happy. Nothing else mattered, not even his pride when he begged Suoh Mikoto to save his friend. No one had ever begged for Saruhiko before, so of course it was Misaki who did.

Misaki never wanted to challenge Saruhiko. He wanted to challenge the world with Saruhiko.

Because in his eyes Fushimi Saruhiko was the one who could change everything.

Four relationships that shaped Fushimi Saruhiko.

Two Lasted.

His King and his Partner.

#this is a lot longer than i thought it would be #i blame eri #k project #k anime #k #fushimi saruhiko #fushimi niki #oogai aya #munakata reisi #yata misaki #lost small world #k lost small world #k los #character study #i guess?#I'm not sure?#shower thoughts basically

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tsw-story · 6 years

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Chapter 76 - Attack of Titans

Before them was an elderly woman surrounded by a cute wood workshop of machines and tools and layers of fabrics. Her skin was tinted a sickly green beneath blond locks of hair, and where her eyes should have been, were a pink and blue button sewed to flesh. They somehow were still able to see, however, as she did her job as any craftsman would. Said job, being a seamstress, was easier for her, as hanging from her body were many loose strings that she controlled as any would do so with arms.

Kevin watched as she completed the last strand of her project. This time, his skin was only as white as his ginger nature allowed. It surprised himself that he wasn't terrified.

“So you were able to find what I asked about?” Eldrian had waited patiently for her to be finished. “I know it was an odd, tricky request.”

Marionette nodded. Her button eyes turned up to him as a smile grew slowly along the wrinkles around her lips. “Yes. We were lucky enough.”

Eldrian let out a breath of relief. “Thank goodness. I really owe you one this time. Really. After we deal with this, I'll come back and make it up to you somehow.”

The demon's workshop was holding four others at the time—Renatta, Daveon, Arlandria, and Deena. They waited patiently as well, having found seats in the corner, and Deena was nose-deep in a book that was resting on the end table. Something about demonic designer mugs.

“So what do you guys think?” Eldrian asked.

Renatta was gleeful. “This sounds fun!”

While Daveon shrugged with a slight smile, Deena spoke up as she lowered the book from her gaze. “I'll feel silly, but it's the best way. Let's just get things over with.”

What they spoke of would soon be revealed to perhaps more than it should, but they had made up their minds. There were some things any good-natured person had to do. There was something inside of them that had awoken, some later than others, that called to them. Somebody had to make a difference. And so, they departed shortly after.

Lucy, being the eldest daughter of the Demon World's ruler, had access to a number of perks, one of which being a portal room the team had used once before. She has the power to open a gateway to any place on Earth, for herself or others. The coordinates become set, and then a fissure of hellfire tears open along the surface. It always left with no evidence of ever being there.

That's exactly what happened. Nobody would know there ever was a fissure in Spokane, but there was, and what it brought was much more important.

***

The tree-covered woods outside the city was void of noise one minute, and but chattering the next. Aegis Arcanum had arrived. In front of them spanned the city with a chill in the air, though the chirping of birds reminded them spring was gradually approaching. That is, if they lived long enough to see it.

Eldrian gripped a slip of paper that flapped around in the breeze. It read the time and place, courtesy of Zayna. He placed it back into his pocket.

He was the first to act. Standing still, ethereal rings formed around his midsection, and they slid up and down his form to his head and toes, but as they went, the outfit he wore before was something else. They revealed his Dark Mage blue robes—face magically showed to show only a pair of glowing yellow eyes. It caused his voice to be distorted, and it reverberated.

One hand outwards brought his Staff of Lightning out of a ring in the air, from seemingly nowhere, to retrieve it from magic storage.

“My turn!” Renatta exclaimed, perhaps too excited by the concept.

As with Eldrian, rings moved out from her body as she changed wardrobe. A form-fit dark red outfit, like a ninja may wear, appeared around her, covering all but her eyes. Though it hide her hair, the back of the hood was tied by a black ribbon, causing her silhouette to have a ponytail regardless. Her voice was masked in a similar way.

Though she asked for something more akin to a belly dancer, but in her words, more deadly, the crew convinced her to be more subtle. She eventually conceded.

Deena did the same. Her legs were covered by stockings striped with black and red, which was beneath a frilly black skirt. Black boots comfortably covered her feet, and a coat of similar covers kept around her torso. Her hair was done up, so it appeared shot once her pointed black cap appeared. Then, her face shrouded in darkness, with only a pair of red eyes to be recognized.

Daveon's transformation was less decorative than the rest. It was a loose-fitting robe of green shades with a hood over his head, though unlike Eldrian's, a small pair of decorate antlers sprouted out from the sides. Brown boots and gloves rested around his extremities, and instead of his face being magically darkened, it was similar to Renatta, in that fabric covered most of it.

Arlandria touched her pendant, which temporarily caused her elven ears to shrink to resemble those of a human's. Then, her disguise came next. It was a white robe, like a priestess, trimmed with pale greens. It didn't cover her head. Instead, she wore a feminine mask with paintings of green leaves and branches—lips to match. As part, her hair turned completely white, like Deena's.

Kevin was last. Sadly, he was no wizard, and couldn't cast a spell to easily swap clothes back and forth. Instead was the item they sought from Marionette upon their visit. Eldrian had taken care of the meeting, and had thought of Kevin's problem. He wore a thick silver chain around his neck that ended with a pendant emblazoned with the helmet of a medieval knight. His hand gripped it, squeezed it, and then it happened.

Metal materialized around his body, including a helmet that covered much of his face. However, it was unlike the others. It was completely illusory, and therefore, a touch would pass straight thought it. The armour was simply there to act as a disguise, and just like all of the rest, it altered his voice slightly as well.

The spellbreaker was prepared in other ways as well. After a, “Summon Sword, Drodias!” and a, “Summon Shield, Hottah!” he was armed with a magic blade and heater shield. Tucked into his pocket was a pair of anti-magic cuffs they had recovered as well. This time, they were prepared for everything they could prepare for.

“This is it.” Eldrian stared off the hill over the city's skyline. He knew that somewhere, this new enemy was lurking, waiting to boldly strike in a way that was uncommon for demons, from what he knew.

“Do you trust Zayna this much?” Deena asked.

“I do. She put her life on the line telling us this information. I don't see why else she'd even seek us out if this wasn't true.”

“Could be a trap.”

“Well, then we'll damn ready to spring it. I'm finished with messing around. If demons want to attack a city, and hurt innocent people, then this is exactly what all of our magic practice has been leading up to.” He shot a glance to the druid. “Daveon. I'd like you to be our eyes in the sky. Let us know if you see anything, and act on your own wisdom. Whatever you think needs to be done.”

He nodded. With a hop in the air, Daveon shifted into a crow, and flew off into the sky in a heartbeat.

“I'll handle any wizards, so just let me know if any are involved. Could be warlocks helping,” Kevin stated. “But I'm about ready to cut down a demon too.”

“Anything you need from me?” asked Renatta.

Before he could answer, the sound of concrete being shattered reverberated up the hillside, as if a stick of dynamite had gone off now far from them. Ahead, a cloud of dust lifted from a tall building. It was difficult to tell, but a giant figure appeared to be stomping past as well.

“Move between the rooftops, Ren. Keep watch, let us know, and strike out at foes. Do what you do best, like when you tried to kill me, but less of that part.” Eldrian nodded.

She brought up a hand to salute. “Roger!” And off she went, leaping down through the city of an unnatural agility.

“Arly. Watch as, but especially Kev. He has fewer means to defend himself, besides his fancy equipment, and you're a master of warding. Just say safe, and not just because you're the only one that could aid is if we're injured. All of you follow me. Even if we're seen, we can't stand around and watch. Let's go!”

Eldrian, Deena, Kevin, and Arlandria found the source of the detonation. It was no bomb, but a giant creature that looked as if it was made of solid marble and nearly ten feet tall, and incredibly wide. One swing of its fist shattered a large chunk off the nearby structure, which was now blocking the street ahead.

“There!” came Renatta's voice from above. She was gesturing towards a second beast of stone just a couple blocks down. “Daveon said there is at least one more farther on!”

“Kev and I have this one.” Eldrian brought up his staff. It sparked. “Deena. Arly. Go help Ren with the one behind us. Quick! If I know Dav, he's saving people caught in the crossfire, and he might need our help.”

The noise of stones grinding together echoes out as the creature moved, though with a fluidity impossibly by a creature that was merely an animated statue. Demons could be anything, but this was something completely bizarre to Eldrian.

He brought two fingers out, as well as his staff, and both lit up with crackling electricity.

“I don't know how much my sword will help you, buddy,” shouted Kevin as he formed a wall between his friend and the demon. “But I'll be your shield!”

It thrust its massive fist towards them. Kevin choked the air from his lungs as he brought his shield to absorb the blow—both hands pushed against it. Pain shook up his body. But behind him came his friend lifting up into the sky in a pose that reminded him of the day he first learned about his friend's wizardry.

Eldrian thrust the staff forwards, and an explosive beam of electricity fired out from the tip and towards the upper chest of the beast. White currents coiled down its form and the stone cracked and burst under the shock of the spell. Lighting Lance!

However, it was quickly learned that this beast contained no innards. It had no blood, or anything that could be damaged through electrocution—only rock.

“Got anything bigger than that, buddy?” Kevin called out.

A cackle came from the Dark Mage's hood. “You know I do. Get back! I'm willing to bet this fellow will take awhile to reach me with something up here.”

Meanwhile, Deena turned the corner to another beast that looked exactly the same as the first, minus the chunk broken from its torso. It swung down the moment they saw it, but Arlandria rose up both hands to project a barrier that absorbed the blow, with some resistance.

A flaming chakram spun down from a rooftop to stick into its head. By itself, it yanked free, and flew back into Renatta's hand. Though it had no visible emotion, it turned annoyed the face her above it.

“What the hell are these things?” Deena muttered.

Arlandria stared up through the eyes of her mask. “Demons, but more than one exactly alike I thought was impossible amongst the chaos of the Demon World.”

“Something is up here. We need to figure out what before it's too late.”

#action #adventure #serial #web serial #fiction #fantasy #writing #magic #wizard #wizards #canadian #canada #novel #story #demon #demons #elf #elves

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